We
have asserted that [the] truth of the coming of the Lord is eminently
practical. In proof of this, we here append the following references, to show
how Jesus and the Apostles used the prophecies of His coming again as a motive
to incite us.
1. To watchfulness,—Matt. 24:42-44; 25:13; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 12:35-38; Rev. 16:15.
2. To Sobriety,—1st Thessalonians 5:2-6; 1 Pet. 1:13; 4:7; 5:8.
3. To repentance,—Acts 3:19-21; Rev. 3:3.
4. To fidelity,—Matt. 25:19-21; Luke 12:42-44; 19:12-13.
5. Not to be ashamed of Christ,—Mark 8:38.
6. Against worldliness,—Matt. 16:26-27.
7. To moderation or mildness,—Phil. 4:5.
8. To patience,—Heb. 10:36-37; James 5:7-8.
9. To mortification of fleshly lusts,—Col. 3:3-5.
10. To sincerity,—Phil. 1:9-10.
11. To the practical sanctification of the entire being,—1 Thessalonians 5:23.
12. To ministerial faithfulness,—2 Tim. 4:1-2.
13. To induce obedience to the Apostle's injunctions,—1 Tim. 6:13-14.
14. To pastoral diligence and purity,—1 Pet. 5:2-4.
15. To purify ourselves,—1 John 3:2-3.
16. To abide in Christ,—1 John 2:28.
17. To endure manifold temptations and the severest trial of faith,—1 Pet. 1:7.
18. To bear persecution for the sake of our Lord,—1 Pet. 4:13.
19. To holy conversation and godliness,—2 Pet. 3:11-13.
20. To brotherly love,—1 Thessalonians 3:12-13.
21. To keep in mind our heavenly citizenship,—Phil. 3:20-21.
22. To love the second coming of Christ,—2 Tim. 4:7-8.
23. To look for Him,—Heb. 9:27-28.
24. To confidence that Christ will finish the work,—Phil. 1:6.
25. To hold fast the hope firm unto the end,—Rev. 2:25; 3:11.
26. To separation from worldly lusts and to live Godly,—Titus 2:11-13.
27. To watchfulness because of its suddenness,—Luke 17:24-30.
28. To guard against hasty judgment,—1 Corinthians 4:5.
29. To the hope of a rich reward,—Matt. 19:27-28.
30. To assure the disciples of a time of rejoicing,—2 Corinthians 1:14; Phil. 2:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:19.
31. To comfort the apostles in view of Christ's departure from them,—John 14:3; Acts 1:11.
32. Practical faith in the second coming, is a crowning grace and assurance of blamelessness in the day of the Lord,—1 Corinthians 1:4-8.
33. It is the principal event for which the believer waits,—1 Thessalonians 1:9-10.
34. It is declared to be the time of reckoning with the servants,—Matt. 25:19.
35. Of judgment for the living nations,—Mat. 25:31-46.
36. Of the resurrection of the saints,—1 Corinthians 15:23.
37. Of the manifestation of the saints,—2 Corinthians 5:10; Col. 3:4.
38. It is declared to be the source of consolation to those who sorrow over the dead who sleep in Jesus,—1 Thessalonians 4:14-18.
39. It is declared to be the time of Tribulation to unbelievers,—2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.
40. It is proclaimed every time the Lord's Supper is celebrated,—1 Corinthians 11:26.
Such are some of the uses made of this doctrine in the New Testament. It is employed to arm the appeals, to point the arguments, and to enforce the exhortations. What is there more PRACTICAL in any other doctrine? We would that we had space to give the passages referred to in full. But it will be a greater blessing to you, dear reader, if you will go to the Word and search them out.
We have made no distinction between those passages which refer to the Rapture, and those which refer to the Revelation, both classes being equally used as a motive for the practical purposes mentioned.
